Condenser.



C. V. KERR.

coNoENsER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1913- I Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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CONDENSER.

APPLICATION man ocT.9,1913.

1,156,231.. Patented. 0011.26, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0..wASHlNuTON, D. C.

CHARLES VOINEY KEER, OF WELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

CONDENSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed October 9, 191.3.` Serial No. 794,267.

To @ZZ whom it may concern- Be it known that l, CHARLES V. Kulm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vellsville, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to steam condensers, and more especially to that class of the jet type and particularly adapted to be used in connection with steam turbine plants.

The objects of my invention are: First; to construct and arrange the different cooperating parts of the apparatus so that the exhaust steam enters the volute condenser casing at a high velocity in a spiral path, thereby creating a Cyclonic action in the condensing casing to finely divide the condensing water within the casing and enable the same to thoroughly commingle with the steam and efficiently condense the same.

Second; to construct and arrange the parts in order that the Water may be sub-divided into a great number of finely divided downwardly moving jets of water which are encountered by a body of rapidly moving exhaust steam deflected upwardly in a spiral path, so that the steam entering the condenser casing not only acts to finely subdivide the water but also has a tendency to sustain or suspend the water in the condenser casing, thereby effecting the maximum utilization of the cooling power for a given quantity of water before said Water iiows to the collecting chamber and discharge. Third; to arrange the parts of the condenser so that the air liberated from the exhaust steam is readily separated or collected in the condenser and disposed in the path of the water to be easily and efficiently entrained by the said water on its discharge from the condenser, without in any way disturbing the efficient operation of condensing operations. Fourth; to so construct and arrange the parts as to produce a condenser which is most efficient, inexpensive, compact, has few parts, is easily assembled or may bevtaken apart, quickly repaired, and has low operating cost. Fifth; other objects and advantages of construction will appear from the detailed description to be hereinafter given in connection with the preferred form shown in the drawings.

My invention consists of structural features and relative arrangements of the elements comprising the yinvention which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts in the several figures; Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of the condenser on line I--I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the water distributing plate; and Fig. l is a development ofthe spiral ribs on the inner surface of the condenser casing.

Referring to the drawings 1 is the volute condenser casing having connected there With a collecting chamber 2, provided with a lower opening 3 to which is attached a discharge pipe 4, said pipe 4- having communication with the inlet of any form of centrifugal circulating pump, as shown for example in an application filed by me, Serial No. 803,717.

l/Vithin the casing land arranged on the inner surface of the same is a series of spiral ribs or deflectors 5, 5, inclined in an upward direction as shown, and for purposes to be hereinafter described. Attached to the volute casing 1 is a downwardly extending exhaust steam pipe, as shown in dotted lines, which connects with the lateral exhaust inlet 6, said inlet being so arranged and constructed, as shown in Fig. 2, that the steam is made to enter laterally or eccentrically into the chamber of the casing 1 and describe a spiral path and be deflected in an upward direction by impinging against the spiral ribs 5, 5, inside of casing 1. Said casing 1 is provided at its upper side with an opening 7 adapted to receive a water distributer or plate 8 having perforations 9, said plate being provided with a central iinperforate dome shaped section 10. Attached to thefoutside of the casing 1 and over the opening 7 and distributer or plate 8, is a` suitably shaped cap 1l having a water inlet 12 at its upper end. Connected with the interior of the dome 10 of the plate 8 `is an air pipe 13 which passes through any suitable opening 111 near the top of cap 11, for the purpose of connecting the upper part of the condenser casing 1 and the air collecting dome 10, with the inlet of any suitable air pump, as shown for example in my application Serial No. 803,717, herein referred to.

Centrally disposed within the casing 1 and collecting chamber 2, and having its lower end securing' to the lowe'r part of the collecting chamber 2 and communicating with the inlet of the discharge pipe 4, is a stand pipe 15, provided at the section corresponding with the collecting chamber 2 with a series of holes 16. The upper end of the central stand pipe 15 is arranged within the air collecting dome and'is so proportioned and arranged as to leave a clearance between the pipe and base of the dome 10, as shown.

Thev'operation of the invention is as fol lows z-VVater from a circulating pump being admitted by the upper inlet 12 into the hollow cap, itpasses through the large number of perforations 9, 9, of the distributer plate 8 and is divided up thereby into a series of vertically disposed jets. The exhaust steam which enters at a high velocity by the lateral disposed inlet 6 effects a cyclonic action within the volute condenser casing 1 and strikes the falling jets of water and dashes them into a fine spray against the spiral ribs 5, 5. As the spiral ribs are inclined upwardly toward the distributer plate'S, the water is held suspended in the casing 1 and against the ribs 5, 5, by said steam, and is therebyprevented from falling too rapidly to the bottom of the collecting chamberQ, so that the downward Inovement of the water being retarded, the maximum utilization of the cooling or condensing power of a given quantity of water is secured. As the condensed steam and water accumulate in the collecting chamber 2 it passes through the openings 16, 16 of the stand pipe in the form of yjets into the interior of said stand pipe 15 and is drawn through the discharge pipe 4 by the suction of a circulating pump, not shown. Any air which has been liberated from the condensed steam and' water, and accumulates in the stand pipe 15, is entrained by the water falling through the openings 16 on the same principle as used ,in hydraulic Aair compression, and is carried out by the discharge water, thereby insuring a higher vacuum than is produced in the common forms of jet condensers. i

Any air which is at the top of the condenser casing 1, or stand pipe 15, may accumulate in the dome 10, and then be pumped `through the air pipe 13 by any Vsuitable air pump, not-shown.

It will be seen from the arrangement of the central stand pipe 15 with respect to the overflow from the collecting chamber 2, through the openings 16, and the auxiliary air discharge pipe 13, av higher vacuum than usual can be obtained within the condenser and a better economy in the steam engine or main unit of the plant. f

What I claim is:-- a

l. A- jet condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inletand a lower water outlet, and a lateral exhaust steam inlet interposed between said inlet and outlet `and communicating with and adapted to produce a Cyclonic action within the casing, and a series of upwardly inclined spiral ribs on the inner surface of the casing corresponding to the steam inlet.

2. A jet condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inlet and a lateral exhaust steam inlet below said water inlet and communicating with and adapted to produce a cyclonic action within the casing, a water collecting chamber below and connected with said casing and provided with a discharge opening at its lower end.

3. A jet condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inlet and a lateral exhaust steam inlet below said water inlet and communicating with and adapted to produce a cyclonic action within the casing, a series of upwardly inclined spiral ribs on the inner surface of the casing, a water collecting chamber below and connected with said casing and provided with a discharge opening at its 'lower end.

4. A jet condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inlet and a lateral exhaust steam inlet below said water inlet and communicating with and adapted to produce a cyclonic action within the casing, a water collecting chamber below and connected with said casing and provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, and a vertical stand pipe within said casing and collecting chamber having its upper end communicating with the interior of the casing and its lower end connected with the discharge opening, and provided with means at its lower section to simultaneously drain the water from the collecting chamber and entrain the air in the stand pipe and convey the same to the discharge opening.

5. A jet condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inlet and a lateral exhaust steam inlet below said water inlet and communicating with and adapted to produce a cyclonic action within the casing, a series of upwardly inclined spiral ribs on the inner surface of the casing, a water collecting chamber below and connected with said casing and provided with adischarge opening at its lower end, and a vertical stand pipe within said casing and collecting chamber having its upper end communicating with the interior of the casing and its lower end connected with the discharge opening and provided with a series of openings at its lower section to simultaneously drain the water from the collecting chamber and entrain the, air in the stand pipe and convey the same to the discharge opening.

6. A jet condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inlet and a lateral exhaust steam inlet below said water inlet and communicating with and adapted to produce a cyclonic action within the casing, a iforaminous water distributing plate inserted in said water inlet, a water collecting chamber below and connected with said casing and provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, a vertical stand pipe within said casing and collecting chamber having its upper end communicating with the interior of the casing and its lower end connected with the discharge opening, said stand pipe having a series of openings at its lower section to simultaneously drain the water from the collecting chamber and entrain the air in the stand pipe and convey the same into the lower discharge opening.

7. A j et condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inlet and a lateral exhaust steam inlet below said water inlet and communicating with and adapted to produce a cyclonic action within the casing, a series of upwardly inclined spiral ribs on the inner surface of the casing, a foraminous water distributing plate inserted in said water inlet for sub-dividing said water into a series of vertical jets, a water collecting chamber below and connected with said casing and provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, a vertical stand pipe within said casing and collecting chamber having its upper end communicating with the interior of the casing and its lower end connected with the discharge opening, said stand pipe having a series of openings at its lower' section to simultaneously drain the water from the collecting chamber' and entrain the air in the stand pipe and convey the same into the lower discharge opening.

8. A jet condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inlet and a lateral exhaust steam inlet below said water inlet and communicating with and adapted to produce a cyclonic action within the casing, a series of upwardly inclined spiral ribs on the inner surface of the casing, a foraminous water distributing plate inserted in said water inlet having a central imperforate dome section, a water collecting chamber below and connected with said casing and provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, a vertical stand pipe within said casing and collecting chamber having its upper end under the dome section of the plate and communicating with the interior of the casing and its lowerend connected with the discharge opening, said stand pipe having a series of openings at its lower section to simultaneously drain the water from the collecting chamber and entrain the air in the stand pipe and convey the same into the lower discharge opening.

9. A jet condenser comprising a volute casing having an upper water inlet and a lateral exhaust steam inlet below said water inlet and communicating with and adapted to produce a cyclonic action within the casing, a series of upwardly inclined spiral ribs on the inner surface of the casing, a foraminous water distributing plate inserted in said water inlet having a central imperforate dome section, an air pipe connected with the underside of the dome and the outside of the casing to be connected with an air pump, a water collecting chamber below and connected with said casing and provided with a discharge opening at its lower end, a vertical stand pipe within said casing and collecting chamber having its upper end Linder the dome section of the plate and communicating with the interior of the casing and its lower end connected with the discharge opening, said stand pipe having a series of openings at its lower section to drain simultaneously the water from the collecting chamber and entrain the air in the stand pipe and convey the same into the lower discharge opening.

ln testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES VOLNEY KEER.

Witnesses:

VoLNEY A. KERK, HAROLD R. FLINT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

